Xavier Swimming Announces 15-Person Incoming Class for Fall 2017

CINCINNATI – Xavier men's and women's swimming head coach Brent MacDonald announced seven signees in the late signing period to round out a 15-person signing class joining the Musketeers for the 2017-18 season.

MacDonald added six men to a pair of early signees to bring the men's incoming class to eight total. On the women's side, Samantha White joined six signees from the early period to make a seven-person incoming class.

MEN'S SPRING SIGNEES

Noah Coomler comes to the Musketeers from Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis.

The freestyle sprinter twice qualified for the Indiana Boys State Championships in the 50-yard freestyle, placing in the top 10 in the state in both 2016 and 2017. Coomler was the Franklin Sectional Champion in the event in 2016, and took second in the 100 free in the same sectional meet.

Coomler has posted top time of 21.04 in the 50 and 47.16 in the 100 free in 2017. He has also posted a personal best times of 1:47.99 in the 200 free. Each of these times meets the 2017 BIG EAST Championship qualifying standard.

Bradley Jackson, a distance freestyle specialist, joins Xavier from Arvada, Colo.

The Junior National Qualifier is a four-time conference champion as an individual and was part of three conference championship teams at Lakewood High School. In 2017, he was a finalist for the Colorado Swimming Senior Championships in the mile, finishing sixth. In 2016, Jackson placed fifth in the 200 fly in the USA Swimming Futures Championship in Austin with a time of 2:06.48.

Jackson posted a top time of 15:57.67 in the 1,650 free, as well as a time of 4:41.45 in the 500 free, both times meeting the current qualifying standards for the BIG EAST Championship.

Jackson is planning to study Business at Xavier. He is the son of Richard Jackson and Sharron Jackson, and has a younger sister, Ella. His father played football at Northern State University.

Jackson on Xavier:

"I picked Xavier because of the family atmosphere, great academics, and amazing swim team."

Brian Loos is a breaststroke specialist from Lexington, S.C.

At River Bluff High school, Loos was a five-year member of the varsity swim team, including earning team captain and MVP in 2016.
In 2016, Loos won the South Carolina High School Athletic League state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke and place second in the 100 fly.

Loos posted personal best times in the 100 breast (56.45) and 200 breast (2:05.20) at the Speedo Eastern Sectionals, finishing sixth in both events. Both times qualify would hit the qualifying mark for the BIG EAST Championships.

Loos earned Midlands Boys Swimmer of the Year in 2016 and was named All-Region four times. He was also a three-year member of the varsity lacrosse team.

Loos plans to study Business at Xavier. He is the son of Mark and Tara Loos and has a younger sister, Audrey.

Loos on Xavier:

"Xavier was the perfect fit for me. Great academics, beautiful campus and awesome swim team."

Nick Mahoney comes to Xavier from Suwanee, Ga. The North Gwinnett High School graduate specializes in freestyle.

Mahoney currently holds a pair of individual records at North Gwinnett, in the 200 free and 500 free. He was a finalist for the GHSA 6-7 A State Swimming Championship in both events, taking third in the 500 free with a time of 4:33.61 and sixth in the 200 free with a time of 1:41.66, both hitting the qualifying marks for the BIG EAST Championships.

As part of his club, Swim Atlanta, Mahoney was the 2016 Winter Senior State Champion in the 1000 free and finished runner up in the 500 free and as part of the 800 free relay.

Mahoney plans to study Nursing at Xavier. He is the son of Bill and Shannon Mahoney and has a younger sister, Olivia.

Mahoney on Xavier:

"Xavier had a great family atmosphere, and campus that made it the best option for myself when I was narrowing down my schools in recruiting. Coach MacDonald made me feel very welcomed, and I felt he was the best coach to get the most out of the remaining years of my swim career. Xavier also has a top notch nursing school that I feel will help me succeed for many years to come."

Alex Sironen is a backstroke specialist that comes to Xavier from Centennial, Colo.

With Cherry Creek High School, Sironen qualified for the finals of the Colorado Boys 5A State Championship for the 100 fly and the 100 back during his high school career, placing sixth in both. He was a four-year varsity member and two-time captain at Cherry Creek.

Sironen was five-years member of the Aquawolves club team, and qualified for the 2017 Speedo Champions Series in Mount Hood in July 2017.

Sironen plans to study Sports Marketing at Xavier. He is the son of Denise and Joel Sironen, and has two brothers, Charlie and Jack.

Sironen on Xavier:

"I picked Xavier for the excellent athletics, the variety in academics, and of course the phenomenal campus."

Christian Thomas is backstroke and freestyle specialist from Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

With Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Thomas is a two-time finalist at the New York Boys Federation Championship. Thomas placed third in the 100 back and sixth in the 100 free in the March 2017 event, setting BIG EAST Championship qualifying times in both events.

In February 2017, Thomas was a three-time finalist at the Senior Metropolitan SCY Winter Championship, setting top-six times in the 50 free, 100 back and 200 back.

Thomas, who swam for Red Fox Aquatic Club, took part in the Speedo North Sectionals in Ithaca, N.Y., setting top seven times in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back and 200 back at the event.

Samantha White is a breast stroke specialist who comes to Xavier from Noblesville, Ind.

With Lawrence North High School, White competed in the 100 breast and 200 IM during the 2017 Indiana Girls Sectional Championships, setting personal best times in both. Her BIG EAST Championship-qualifying time of 1:05.77 in the 100 breast at the event earned Thomas a spot in the event in the Indiana State Championship.

White, a member of the Lawrence Swim Team, took part in the Indiana Senior Short Course Championships in 2016 and 2017. She set her top time in the 200 breast during the 2016 event, setting a time of 2:22.72, which meets the BIG EAST Championship qualifying standard.

White also took part in the USA Swimming Future Championship in Atlanta in August 2016, competing in the 100 and 200 breast.

MEN'S FALL SIGNEES

Jared Ritz is a freestyle specialist from Victor, N.Y.

Going into his senior season, Ritz has set a BIG EAST Championship qualifying time in four of the five freestyle events in the past 12 months, narrowly missing hitting the standard for all five with a 22.40 time in the 50 free at the STAR Invitational in Buffalo, N.Y., a first-place time that is only .05 shy of the current conference championship standard. At the same meet, Ritz posted a time of 1:43.74 in the 200 free to place second.

He set a BIG EAST qualifying time in the 100 free at the 2016 Niagara LSC Championship in March 2016. Ritz finished sixth in the 100 free with a time of 47.58, which is .03 off his personal best time of 47.55 set in Feb. 2015. Ritz also posted 1:42.18 in the 200 free, as part of the 800 free relay that took the top spot. Ritz's top time in the 200 free stands at 1:41.80, also set in 2015.

He set BIG EAST qualifying time in the 100 free at the 2016 Niagara LSC Championship in March 2016.

In the distance events, Ritz has a top time of 4:39.40 in the 500 free from the 2016 Niagara LSC Championship, taking second with a time that beats the BIG EAST standard by more than 10 seconds.

In the mile, Ritz set a time of 16:41.76 at the Star Invitational to take fourth.

Ritz has also set top times of 54.13 in the 100 back, 1:56.49 in the 200 back and 1:57.86 in the 200 IM.

Ritz on Xavier:

"I chose Xavier because I really enjoyed the atmosphere on campus, family-like qualities of the team, and I immediately got the feeling it would be my home away from home."

Cameron Weese, who excels in breaststroke and individual medley, is a native of Highlands Ranch, Colo.

In the 100 breast, Weese is a Colorado 5A State Championship qualifier. Ritz set a personal best time, and BIG EAST Championship qualifying time, of 58.60 to finish eighth in the May 2016 meet. In the 200 breast, he set his top time of 2:10.82 at the CA Las Vegas Invitational in December 2015.

Weese is a two-time qualifier for the Colorado 5A State Championship in the 200 IM, setting a personal best time of 1:56.51 in a 13^th place performance in the 2016 edition of the event. His top time in the 400 IM, 4:17.07, was good for third in the 2015 CA Las Vegas Invitational.

Weese traveled to the 2016 USA Swimming Futures Championship in Austin, Texas in August 2016, competing in the 200 meter breast and the 200 meter IM.

WOMEN'S FALL SIGNEES

Maureen Cummins is a freestyle sprinter and backstroke specialist from Westerville, Ohio.

Entering the start of her senior season, Cummins has set a personal best time, and a time that hits the BIG EAST Qualifying Standard for 2016-17, in both the 100 back and 200 back. In the 100, Cummins touching the wall in 57.77 at the Ohio State Championships last February, marking the second time she competed in the state championship in the event (2014). In the 200 back, she recently set a personal best time at the OH MAKO Time Myers Memorial Senior Championship Meet, held in Nov. 2016, touching the wall in 2:13.81.

Her top time of 24.77 in the 50 free, set last spring, would also qualify for a spot in the BIG EAST Championship as well. Cummins has posted personal best times of 53.07 in the 100 free and 2:00.80 in the 200 free.

She competed in the 2016 Futures Championship in Maryland in August 2016, taking part in the 50 meter free (28.16) and 100 meter free (1:01.86).

Cummins was twice named All-Ohio in the 100 back (2014, 2016).

Maureen is the younger sister of current Xavier swim sophomore Annie Cummins.

Lorelei Gaertner is a freestyle sprint and butterfly specialist from Mendota Heights, Minn.

Gaertner is a three-time Minnesota Girls A State Championship qualifier in the 50 free, placing fourth in October 2015 with a personal best time of 24.05. In October 2016, at the Minnesota Girls True Team State Championship, she placed second in the event as an individual with a time of 24.93 and took part in the first-place 200 free relay team on the way to winning the team Championship with Visitation. Gaertner's top time in the 100 free stands at 53.66, set at the Minnesota Senior State Championships.

Gaertner, also a three-time qualifier for the Minnesota Girls A State Championship in the 100 fly, set a personal best time of 56.72 in the event at the state championship as a junior, in November 2015, placing second overall. At the True Team State Championship in October 2016, she took the top spot in the event with a time of 58.73, out-touching second place by over a second and a half.

Gaertner took part in the 2016 USA Swimming Futures Championship in Austin, Texas in August 2016, competing in the 50 meter free, 100 meter free and 100 meter fly.

Loerelei is the sister of current Musketeer sophomore Caroline Gaertner.

Gaertner on Xavier:

"I am so excited to announce my commitment to Xavier University. During my visit, I felt very welcomed by the team and I just knew it would be the right fit for me. I am looking forward to swimming for Coach MacDonald next fall!"

Alison Herman, a native of Whitehouse Station, N.J., specializes in the backstroke, individual medley and breaststroke.

Herman has already hit the BIG EAST qualifying standards in the 100 back and 200 back, setting times of 58.22 and 2:02.47, respectively, at the New Jersey YMCA 13 & Over State Championship in March 2016.

Herman also hit the the BIG EAST standard in the 200 and 400 IM in 2016, setting a time of 4:30.82 in the 400 IM at the same N.J. YMCA Championship, and touching the wall in 2:07.98 at the NJSIAA State Tournament in February 2016.

Herman set personal best times of 1:07.61 in the 100 breast and 2:24.79 in the 200 breast.

Herman competed at both the 2016 YMCA Short Course and Long Course National Championships in 2016.

Taylor Hogan is a native of Atkinson, N.H., specializing in butterfly, backstroke and IM.

Last February at the 2016 NHIAA D1 State Championships, Hogan posted personal best times of 57.95 in the 100 back, and 57.15 in the 100 fly. Both times hit the current BIG EAST qualifying standards.

She posted personal best times in the 200 back (2:05.47) and 200 fly (2:06.03) at the New England Senior Championship in December 2015.

Hogan took part in the 2016 Speedo Championship in Buffalo in April 2016, competing in the 100 and 200 meter back, 100 meter fly and 200 and 400 meter IM. She also took part in the 2016 Futures Championship in Maryland, racing in the 200 meter back and 200 fly.

Hogan on Xavier:

"My favorite thing about Xavier was the big family feel of both the campus and the swim team. I knew it was perfect place for me! I am very excited to compete in the BIG EAST Conference to better my times and reach my goals within the next four years."

Emma Kauffled is a freestyle distance and IM specialist from Wilton, Conn.

Competing in the 2016 YMCA Short Course National Championships in April 2016, Kauffeld posted a top-25 time in the 500 free, finishing in 4:58.31, a performance that is a full 20 seconds faster than the BIG EAST qualifying time for the event.

In the mile, she posted a personal best time of 17:08.66 at the 2016 Connecticut Senior Championships, also a conference championship qualifying time.

She posted a BIG EAST qualifying time in the 400 IM at the 2016 YMCA Short Course National Championship, finishing in 4:36.34 in a time trial.

In July 2016, Kauffeld competed in the 2016 YMCA Long Course National Championship, competing in the 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyle.

Emma is the younger sister of current Musketeer Maggie Kauffeld.

Delaney Sprague is a Danville, Calif. native who excels in breaststroke and IM events.

She set a career-best time of 2:19.09 in the 200 breast at the 2016 SI Senior Classic, taking third with a time that exceeds the BIG EAST standard by more than 14 seconds.

At the same meet, her time of 1:06.38 in the 100 breast matched her career-best and earned a sixth place finish. She also picked up a fourth place finish in the 400 IM (4:33.67) and a top-20 finish in the 200 IM (2:12.37), all three hit the BIG EAST qualifying standards.

Sprague took part in the 2016 USA Swimming Futures Championship at Stanford in August 2016, competing in the 200 meter IM and 100 meter breast.

Sprague was named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-America in August 2016.

Sprague on Xavier:

"I chose Xavier because it was a great fit for me athletically and academically. Xavier offers me impressive academic courses and professors, a competitive swim program, and a strong sense of community within the campus."

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